10 Medications You Must Master Before Your ICU Rotation

Starting your ICU rotation? This comprehensive guide covers the 10 essential medications every medical student and resident must know before stepping into the intensive care unit. From vasopressors to sedatives, learn the practical pearls that separate knowing drug names from confidently using them at the bedside.
🔥 What You'll Learn:
✅ Vasopressors: Norepinephrine, Vasopressin, and Epinephrine - dosing, access, and when to use each
✅ Sedatives & Analgesics: Fentanyl, Dexmedetomidine, and Propofol - safe administration and monitoring
✅ Critical Care Essentials: Amiodarone for arrhythmias, insulin drips, loop diuretics, and hydrocortisone
✅ Safety Tips: Avoiding common mistakes, side effects to watch for, and practical dosing guidelines
✅ Real-world Applications: Scenarios you'll encounter on day 1 of your ICU rotation
📋 Medications Covered:

Norepinephrine - First-line vasopressor for shock
Vasopressin - The perfect norepinephrine companion
Epinephrine - For anaphylaxis, severe asthma, and refractory shock
Fentanyl - Gold standard for ICU analgesia
Dexmedetomidine - Cooperative sedation without respiratory depression
Propofol - Fast-acting sedation with important safety considerations
Amiodarone - Antiarrhythmic for A-fib and wide complex tachycardia
Insulin (IV) - Critical for DKA, HHS, and severe hypertriglyceridemia
Loop Diuretics - Furosemide, torsemide, bumetanide conversions and dosing
Hydrocortisone - For refractory septic shock

🎯 Perfect For:

Medical students starting ICU rotations
Internal medicine residents
Critical care fellows
Nursing students in intensive care
Anyone wanting to master ICU pharmacology

⚠️ Key Safety Pearls:

Central line vs peripheral IV access requirements
Dosing ranges and titration guidelines
Monitoring parameters and side effects
Drug interactions and contraindications
Conversion ratios and bioavailability differences

0:00 Introduction
0:36 Norepinephrine
1:59 Vasopressin
2:32 Epinephrine
3:41 Fentanyl
4:20 Dexmedetomidine (Precedex)
6:04 Propofol
7:32 Amiodarone
8:45 Insulin
9:41 Loop diuretics
12:46 Hydrocortisone

Watch "Insulin types and uses" here:    • Types of insulin and how it's used in clin...  
Watch Insulin drip video here:    • Insulin Drip Explained! When to use Insuli...  

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